Many of Sir Richard’s comments will be recognised by those working in the NHS. Doctors are working harder than ever before as all NHS services come under enormous pressure from a combination of rising workload, falling resources and staff shortages in key specialities.

The Government continues to claim that the health budget is being protected, yet in reality billions of pounds are being clawed back by the Treasury each year, while the target of reducing the budget by £20 billion has so far been done on the backs of NHS staff through year-on-year pay cuts and without any sustainable plan from the Government.

Responding to claims that doctors were looking after so many patients they are missing vital signs, the Department of Health said levels of clinical staff working in the NHS are the highest since records started.

Patient safety and care is a priority for the Government and it is right that we have high expectations for our NHS.

We now have the highest ever number of professionally qualified clinical staff since census records began, and Health Education England is working on how to recruit more.

While the NHS is one of the safest, most efficient healthcare systems in the world we should never shy away from trying to improve standards for patients.

NHS doctors are looking after so many patients they are missing vital signs of illness, an expert has warned.

An expert has warned that patients are under threat from overworked doctors missing vital signs Credit: PA

In an interview with The Guardian, Sir Richard Thompson, one of Britain's most senior doctors, attacked ministers over NHS budget cuts that he says are threatening patient care, as doctors under constant "strain and stress" are missing symptoms.

He said hospital doctors are trying to look after up to 70 elderly patients at a time, when 20 is the maximum number regarded as necessary to ensure they receive the ideal minimum of 15 minutes with each patient.